Foul indicator for bowling alleys



. 1,621,511 March 22, A J.

FOUL INDIC ATOR FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed Sept. 22, 1919 m ,ny-

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Y fiyudif 0 ill Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

umran s1 res AUGUST J. KEMPIEN, or srr. PAUL; MINNESOTA.

Four. INnIoAroR ron BOWLING ALLEYS.

Application filedSeptember 22, 19i5. Serial No. 325,548.

My invention relates to improvement in foul line indicators for bowlingalleys and has for its object to provide a device which is adapted tobecome operative for ind cating whenthe foot of a bowler passes overtheiioul line of the alley and which remains inoperative during thepassage of a bowling ball over the same.

In carrying out my objects, I employ an electrical circuit which hasconnected in it a switch positioned at the foul line or the bowlingalley and a relay, the circuit or which is connected to a suitablesignaling device. In addition, I provide the armature of said relaywith-adjustable weights whereby the movement of said armature toward therelay coils is suificiently retarded to pre-.

vent the relay circuit from closing and actuating the signal, when theball passesover the foul line switch. u

The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear inconnection with the detailed description thereof and are particularlypointed out in the claims.

,In the drawings vforming part of thls specification: I

Fig. 1 is a plan view of abo-wling alley showing 7 my invention indiagrammatlc form, installed therein. 7

Fig. 2 isa sectional detail view, taken on line 2,2lof Fig. ;,1, drawntoan enlarged scale.

3 3 of Fig. 2.

My invention is best shown in Fig. 1, as

applied to an ordinary bowling alley, indicated in its entirety at A,which is provided with theusual pins B, set up in the ordinary manner.At the players end of the bowling alley,.l employ a switch D, whichextends completely across the bowling alley at the foul line thereof.connected to an electrical circuit 11 which switch is connected inseries with a battery the alley, as desired, so that'the player and pinsetter may be simultaneously advised when a foul has been committed. Ifdesired a sign 21 with the words Foul printed on it, may be positionedadjacent the signal 19.

Fig. 3 is a sectional viewtaken on line This switch, is directly Theconstruction of the switch. D is brought out in detail in Figs. 2 and 3.A slot 1 3 is out directly across the bowling alley floor extendingcompletely acrossthe same, at the foul line thereof. l/Vithin this slotis positioned a plate 12 which 'liesalong the bottom of the said slot.Immediately above the plate 12 is positioned a metal strip 10 which isprovided withdownwardly extending contact points 14, adapted to come incontact with plate 12 when the-said strip is depressed. For supportingthe strip 10, a number of plungers 15 are employed,which are rigidlyattached thereto and which pass freely through openings 17 formed in theSilld. plate 12 and which engage compression coil springs positionedwithin the floor of the alley, below the slot 13. With thisconstruction, thesaid strip 10 may be held nor mally positioned a.slightamount above the surface of the floor, with the contact points 1inormally tree from plate 12. When the bowlingball or the foot of aplayer crosses 1 the foul line the strip 10 is depressed,therebymakingcontact with the plate 12. It can readily becomprehended however thatwhen the bowling ball passes over the switch D, depressing strip 10,that the contact between the contact; pointl i and theplate 12 is only,

momentary, while when "the foot of, the player engages the said switch,the said contactis held closed for a greater period of time. A circuit11 is con'nectedqto the strip 10 and plate 12 so that the same becomesclosedwhen the strip lO'is depressed. s

T he relay C as best shown in Fig. 1 coinprises a coil 17' which isconnected in series with a battervlS and the switch D vin 'the circuit11. This relay furthercomprisesan armature '24 which is pivotally'mounted upona base 30 andis adapted 'tooscillate toward and away fromthe magnet 17 as the same is energized and deenergized. At the upper endof armature 24, provide two contact points 25 which form a circuitclosing device for the circuit 20, one of the leads of the said circuitbeing directly connected to one of the contact points 25, and the otherof the leads ofsaidcircuit beingconnected to the armature 24.: Asthearmature 24is attracted by magnet 17 contact points 25 are caused tomake contact and to close the circuit 20 so as to actuate the signals 20and 22.

For rendering the signal inoperative upon the passage of a bowling ballover the same,

I retard the movement of the armature 2A so that the time required forcausing the said armature to become attracted by the magnet 17 isconsiderably greater than with the ordinary relay. This has the effectof preventing the said armature from being attracted by the magnet 17when the bowling ball momentarily closes the switch D. For retardingsaid movement I employ a lever 31 which is rigidly attached to thearmature 2i. This lever is arranged to project outwardly beyond the saidarmature on both sides thereof.- Upon the ends or the said lever areslidably mounted weights 32 which may be adjustably positioned along thesaid lever. A tension coil spring 33 is secured to the lever 31 on oneside thereof and serves to hold the said armature 24: away from-the coilof the magnet 17. The movement of the same may be terminated by a stop4&0 diagrammaticall shown in Fig. 1.- It can readily be seen that withthis structure that when the bowling ball momentarily closes the switchD and completes the circuit 11, that the armature 24 due to the inertiaof the same, formed by weights 32 will not become attracted by the saidmagnet 17 and hence will not cause the circuit 20 to actuate the signals19 and 22. On the other hand when the foot of a player depresses theswitch member 10, the time elapsing before the players foot can beremoved is sufficient to permit the magnet 17' to attract the armature24 overcoming the inertia of theweights 32, thereby bringing the contactpoint 25 in contact, and causing the circuit 20 to actuate the s ignals1-9 and 22.

The advantages army invention are apparent. A device is provided whichis adapted to indicate when a technical foul has been committed by theplayer. This device is positive in action and exceedingly simple inconstruction and may be adjusted to remain inoperative for a minimun'irate of speed at'which bowling balls would traverse the foul line of thealley.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the'principlesof operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I nowconsider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to haveit understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and thatthe invention can be carried 'out'by other means and applied to usesother than those above set forth within the scope of the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. A foulindicator comprising a signal device, means for operating saidsignal device, including a member positioned in the floor of the bowlingalley, a circuit including a magnet with its armature controlled therebyand a weighted member carried by the pivot of said armature to create,ahigh moment of inertia whereby the signal device is inoperative uponamomentary actuation of said floor member.

2. A foul indicator comprising an electrical signal device, a normallyopen circuit for operating said signal device, a magnet havin'ga pivotedarmature for closing said signal circuit, a normally open circuit foroperating said magnet,'circuit closing means positioned in the floor ofthe bowling alley for closing said magnet circuit and means in relationto the pivot of said armature to cansela high moment of i1" .Jtia' forholding said armature from movement upon momentardy-closing said flowcircuit closing device.

3. A foul indicator -co'mprising an electrical signal dev'ice,a norma lyopen circuit for operating said signal device, a magnet having anarmature for closing said signal circuit normally holding said signalcircuit open, a normally open circuit for operating said magnet,circuitclosi'ng means positioned in the floor of the bowling alley forclosing said magnet circuit, an arm secured to said armature and aweight adjustab'ly positioned on said arm for holding said armature frommovement upon momentarily closing said floor circuit closing device. I

l. A foul indicator comprising a signaling device, a relay having amagnet, an armature, a circuit connected with saidmagnet, a circuitclosing device-for clos'ing said magnet circuit, a circuit connectedwith said armature and signal, an arm connected with said armature, andan adjustable weighted member positioned upon said arm.

'5. A foul indicator comprising an electrical signal device, a normallyopen circuit for operating saidsignal device, a magnet having anarmature for closing said signal circuit normally holding said signalcircuit open, a normally open circuit for operating saidmagnet, circuitclosing means positioned in the floor of the bowling alley for closingsaid magnet circuit, an arm secured to said armature and projecting on vsch side thereof, and a pair of weights adjustably positioned upon theends ofsaid arm fer holding said arm from movement upon niomentarilyclosing said circuit device. 7

Signed at St.- Paul, in theeounty of Ram;- sey and State of Minnesota;this 18thday of September, 1919. v v

AUGUST J. KEM PI'EN.

